I'm thinking more is being made out of the mica then need be. from photos of vapman site, the first by AV just above. tells me one thing and I bet a dollar to a doughnut its right. the mica is fit in place and screwed, there is a small lip left both on top mica and bottom mica and once screwed in place both top and bottom are sanded which takes the mica exactly down to the wood surface and a lot of dust will be produced, I'd also be willing to be they have good vacuum system in place.
and with as much attention to detail this little beauty exhibits, I HIGHLY doubt they did not take health risks into consideration, and I'm also willing to bet it was found to be the best material for the job.
after considering battery vaps, I have since moved on , maybe when the battery being used can last longer then one bowl I will reconsider bat power. but until then for me in portable its gonna be non battery device and this one is topping my list for purchase consideration, not going the VG route and taking in butane as you go , that was a big appeal to me for the VM. It's just a matter of time till I get one of these. Maybe the "vapman" himself will come on by and offer a FC discount
that would take it over the edge with me.
but,,, always a but... I'm still not sure about basic or classic model. it is said there is no difference in performance.. but in the back of my mind I little voice says, if the basic is as good as the original then why was it not the 'original' ? there has to be something to it, way I see it, or they would not have made the vapman the way they originally did.
hell maybe its all a price point issue, not selling as many VM as they would like at the original, sanded finished wood and heat wrap. and to make it cheaper for consumer no heat wrap or wood finish. after all 86usd is more appealing than 140usd for a lot of folks. so I'm still up in the air which to get.
@vaporninja I would LOVE to see some pics of your trail tested VM, curious what a finished 3 year old unit looks like. I'd very much appreciate that.
an odd question, but as I have not had a vape before , I hear its a different smell then burning herbs. my question if of the vapmans smell , the unit itself. how does it smell the one with heat shield and one wtihout? I have lots of experience with wood working and fires. wood stinks when it burns, chars , I wonder if one would not notice the wood smell when using the basic, I almost can't see as though you would not notice it, in smell and taste. thought?
to get one 
